Think you're good at multitasking and driving? Think again

On behalf of Lorenz & Lorenz, L.L.P. posted in Car Accidents on Thursday, February 7, 2013.

Drivers who think they are good at multitasking may actually be a bigger threat on the road, according to a new study. Individuals who think they are good at talking on the phone while driving are actually less likely to be safe drivers and they may contribute to more car accidents.

Researchers said that the main reason drivers multitask is because they think they are good at it and can still drive safely. Unfortunately, that isn't the case. The study found that most drivers are not as good at multitasking as they think and that drivers often become distracted when multitasking, which can lead to unsafe driving.

The study found some interesting results regarding drivers' ability to drive safely when multitasking and their perceived notions about multitasking. The study found that the drivers who were most effective at multitasking were the drivers who did not multitask that often because they were able to focus on one task at a time.

Drivers who multitask more often, like using their cellphone while driving, were more likely to be bad at multitasking, making them more likely to cause or be in a car accident. The study also found that people who were more impulsive and sensation-seeking were more likely to multitask as well as portray other bad driving behaviors.

The researchers concluded that people who multitask a lot tend to think that they are good at multitasking when the opposite actually seems to be true. Drivers who multitask quite often when they drive were found to be worse at multitasking despite doing it more often than other drivers.

The findings of this study are not good news for safety advocates. Safe driving organizations have continued to raise awareness to the dangers of distracted driving, specifically the dangers of using a cellphone while driving. Safety officials, including governmental organizations, say that distracted driving accidents will continue to happen until all drivers are able to stop multitasking while driving and instead focus on the road.

Tell us about your legal matter. Your case is confidential.

Fill out the form and we’ll be in touch with you shortly, or call us directly at 877-LORENZ2 (877-567-3692).

Bold labels are required.

Contact Information

Name

Email AddressPlease enter a valid email address.

PhonePlease enter a valid phone number. You may use 0-9, spaces and the ( ) - + characters.

Brief description of your legal issue

Please verify that you have read the disclaimer.I have read the
disclaimer.disclaimer.

The use of the Internet or this form for communication with the firm or any individual member of the firm does not establish an attorney-client relationship. Confidential or time-sensitive information should not be sent through this form.